My weekend angst
Aug. 12th, 2012 12:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chrishansenhomeLast Thursday I discovered that I had a mild case of cellulitis in my right leg. It was a bit pink and warm to the touch. I had had a high fever on Tuesday night, and a lower one on Wednesday. I thought it was the flu. The Foot Clinic prescribed an intramuscular injection of antibiotics for two weeks. They gave me the first one, in the butt cheek, and arranged with the District Nurses to come and continue this for two weeks.
However, HWMBO and I had planned for a month a day trip on Saturday to Liverpool, and since I had to wait for the District Nurse, I couldn't go. I was gutted.
On Saturday the nurse finally arrived at 2 pm, and I told him my tale of woe. He asked me, "Why didn't they show you how to do the injection yourself?" I was flabbergasted. I hadn't been aware that patients could do this. So I could have gone to Liverpool yesterday after all.
This afternoon he came by around 12:30, and taught me how to clean up beforehand, mix the antibiotic, draw it into the syringe, change the needle, and administer the injection. As the antibiotic is mixed with lignocaine, an anesthetic, I felt nothing, although I was aware of the antibiotic entering my thigh muscle. It was also interesting that I could tell when I was going through fat and when I hit the muscle solely by the way the needle felt as it was going in.
On reflection, I should have known that this was possible, as I have friends who are female-to-male transmen, and when they are on testosterone (or "T"), they do an intramuscular injection once a week, and are taught how to do that by their endocrinologist or the endocrinologist's nurse.
So tomorrow one of the District Nurses will come by to watch me do it and deliver smaller needles for the injections. Then I'll be left to do it myself. I shall have a quiet word with the Foot Clinic. Maybe it will help.
However, HWMBO and I had planned for a month a day trip on Saturday to Liverpool, and since I had to wait for the District Nurse, I couldn't go. I was gutted.
On Saturday the nurse finally arrived at 2 pm, and I told him my tale of woe. He asked me, "Why didn't they show you how to do the injection yourself?" I was flabbergasted. I hadn't been aware that patients could do this. So I could have gone to Liverpool yesterday after all.
This afternoon he came by around 12:30, and taught me how to clean up beforehand, mix the antibiotic, draw it into the syringe, change the needle, and administer the injection. As the antibiotic is mixed with lignocaine, an anesthetic, I felt nothing, although I was aware of the antibiotic entering my thigh muscle. It was also interesting that I could tell when I was going through fat and when I hit the muscle solely by the way the needle felt as it was going in.
On reflection, I should have known that this was possible, as I have friends who are female-to-male transmen, and when they are on testosterone (or "T"), they do an intramuscular injection once a week, and are taught how to do that by their endocrinologist or the endocrinologist's nurse.
So tomorrow one of the District Nurses will come by to watch me do it and deliver smaller needles for the injections. Then I'll be left to do it myself. I shall have a quiet word with the Foot Clinic. Maybe it will help.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 02:02 pm (UTC)You're on up on me if you can give yourself injections.
Hope your leg is all better very soon.
Sorry you missed Liverpool.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 03:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 04:05 pm (UTC)Sry to read you had that problem and missed out on your month long planned date!
Not sure if i could ever inject myself with needle.. egads! Be careful when you do so !!!
Luv n Hugs,
r ♥
no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 05:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-12 08:21 pm (UTC)Get well soon, my friend.
no subject
Date: 2012-08-13 07:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-08-15 06:15 pm (UTC)